I was born in July 1985 to a mother who was a positive carrier of GBS. At 5 weeks old, I started having seizures...my mother described that my skin turned yellow and my eyes would always be rolled upwards. I had sepsis and meningitis. The doctors told my mother to prepare for the worst but she was determined to hang on and never for a second gave up hope of saving her only daughter. She also contracted an infection and was on antibiotics to fight it. She spent everyday for months with me in the hospital and breastfed me the entire time. On top of the antibiotics I receive intravenously, I benefited from her antibiotics through her breast milk. I was never given formula the entire time.

I became the first infant survivor of GBS for this hospital and today I live a happy, healthy life. There are not many resources on adults who survived GBS as an infant. Most I have found are adults with disabilities or handicaps as a direct result of suffering GBS as an infant. In fact, I have yet to find another adult like me out there! I have no learning disabilities, mental or physical handicaps. I have two strapping young boys of my own. I am not a carrier of GBS. I survived. I hope that my story brings hope to other mothers out there who were told to make arrangements for their child's funeral or for those who are losing hope. I wish to find more adults like me who can raise their fists and claim their victorious battle against GBS.— Nicole Kinyon, AZ, USA

Nicole tries to reach out to parents over the internet and find other adults who are survivors of GBS as an infant.